Just wondering. I figure there are a lot of people here who travel. Where do you stay and why? Do you travel frequently?

I'll be in a Holiday Inn Express for a couple days next week. Never have stayed in one before. Any advice? Free broadband! But I guess that's getting pretty common.

We don't do a lot of overnites for business, but we do have a lot of family out of state.

We don't stay with any one particular chain. We look for places that are new or recently renovated.

Over the holidays we spent 2 nites at a Holiday Inn in Tampa. We had to change rooms because the one we had a bad mold odor. The next 2 nites we spent in a recently remodeled Days Inn outside of Atlanta, and it was wonderful.

When traveling I try to take my family as much as possible so I look for accommodations (sp) that have the amenities we like to have. Our preference is for a suite where the kids can have some time away from the parents, or vice versa. Hampton & Fairfield are typically pretty good for us. Courtyard by Marriott & Holiday Inn express are OK as well. Like Carol said newer or recently rennovated inns are usually the best bet. Stayed in a Doubletree in Tennessee recently that had a serious smoke odor in the non smoking room we were in. I noticed it & I smoke, and no it wasn't me.

Valhalla Inn - Toronto - Great atmosphere, service and nice folks

Hilton - San Diego Airport - fantastic views and right on the beach

Wyndham Garden - Dallas (Irving) - great service and fantastic lunches

Embassy Suites - LaJolla, Ca - duh!

Marriott Hickory Ridge - Chicago (Lisle) - best meeting place ever and great eating

Hilton Garden - Houston (Bush airport) - small Hilton with big service - I recommend any Hilton Garden Inn

Inn at Morgan Hill - Morgan Hill, Ca - a great getaway with a fireplace and jacuzzi in each room

Peabody - Memphis & Little Rock - the ducks and atmosphere

Almost any Hampton Inn - downsized Hilton care and service (free high speed)

Radisson - Portsmouth, Va - even after a hurricane they made the stay pleasant

Holiday Inn Express - Henderson, Ky - pleasant folks

Country Inn & Suites - Calagry, Alberta - just a real nice place with real nice people

Stay away Hotels
Hyatt - Chicago (Lisle) - staff has head up a - - and poor customer attitude

Marriott - Houston (Bush airport) same as Hyatt above

Holiday Inn - Moline, Il - a stay from he-l, raw chicken, but the night manager is nice

Days Hotel - Herndon, Va - dumbest and worst dining staff in the country and tasteless food

Based upon my current activities I'll spend about 200 nights in hotels this year, last year was about 120 or so, and you get to know them after a while. Some are so-so, some are good, and a few are great. Most of my stays are for 3-5 nights so I have a pretty good exposure to the facilities.

Hilton - San Diego Airport - fantastic views and right on the beach

A great list--it's good to hear from a real road warrior in this regard. A minor correction to the San Diego Hilton plug. If your're referring to the Harbor Island Hilton, it is a great place, but no beach--it's on the harbor.

I would also warn against Ramada, as my experience has been that the quality is wildly inconsistent, and the head office doesn't seem to care much if guests have a problem with a particular property. A good case in point is the Ramada Tower in just north of LAX in Culver City, which is probably the worst hotel I've ever seen.

I didn't want to say "Right on the rocks in San Diego Harbor". The beach is actually kinda down the road, around the corner and up the street. My last time there, when I opened up my door I was greated by the great view of the harbor, the downtown area and the "Star of India" sailing in the harbor.

Randy - How many different hotels do you figure you've stayed in?

1st, let me include the Hilton in Troy, Michigan in my list.

As for the number of different hotels? In the last 2 years over 50 at least, maybe more. In the last 3 weeks I've been in 4 different ones (2 of them for the 1st time). Most of my hotel stays are return visits.

In the past I have used Trip Advisor (http://www.tripadvisor.com) to look up reviews for hotels when I have traveled.

Hampton Inn has always proved to be consistent with their outstanding service and value. They even have prepared breakfasts to go in brown paper bags if you cannot take advantage of their buffet breakfast.

Jaime

I also like the Hiltons and Hampton's. Very consistent and can't recall ever getting a bad one.

For some of the Vegas fans here, the best site I have seen for hotel reviews there is www.cheapovegas.com - budget minded, but probably the most fair & accurate reviews I have read, and I agree with pretty much what they say based on all of my stays in Vegas (LV Hilton, Flamingo, California, Days Inn...). Pretty funny too. They also have reviews for Reno and NYC.

Another Road Warrior here......

I travel (rough calculation) 50-75% of my time, often in a place for several nights, sometimes in multiple places in one week. I have of course developed my favorites.....

Holiday Inn Express and Hampton Inn......between them, there is one on every street corner it seems, most are very consistent. They tend to be clean, have HS internet, and cable. Almost all have workout rooms (which I really do intend to start using - honest!). Some have indoor pools, and/or spas. Oh, and the price is fair.

Airlines: Depends on the range. If I am flying short (Bay area, Vegas, Phoenix) then I usually go Southwest. Further up the Coast (Portland, SEATAC, Vancouver) then usually Alaska. Anywhere else, usually American. They all give terrific service.

I stay awayfrom America Worst (West) and Fairfield Inn.

I usually use Enterprise rentals, but also like Avis or Alamo.

Hershal

I've had good luck with Hampton Inns. The worst place I've ever stayed was a Sheraton in New York City at least for the prices charged. I called housekeeping to complain that there was mold and mildew in the shower, then went shopping at Macy's. When I returned, the mold and mildew was gone, but so were the shower curtains and towels.

I can add that the Holiday Inn Select in downtown Memphis - while quite a bit too foo-foo for me - is exactly one block from BB Kings restaurant on Beale Street.......and BB King's has deep fried catfish (yeah, it's farm fish, but less bones that way) with collard greens and black-eyed peas.....and the cook really does know what s/he is doing.......and sweet tea in a mason jar......oh, and the blues were beyond description......

I am drooling just thinking about it.....of course, there are those who might claim that aSouthern country boy drools anyway......

Hershal

I am drooling just thinking about it.....of course, there are those who might claim that aSouthern country boy drools anyway......

Hershal

Only over collards, black eyed peas and sweet tea, Hershal, we'll forgive ya. Bless your heart, you cain't help yourself, bein' so far from home.

I can add that the Holiday Inn Select in downtown Memphis - while quite a bit too foo-foo for me - is exactly one block from BB Kings restaurant on Beale Street.......

Hershal
There is also a Hampton Inn smack in the center of Beale Street... for those that prefer the Hampton Inn chain.

Jaime

I just got back from 2 weeks in the UK on business. Hope these comments can help someone out.

Glasgow, Scotland
Golden Tulip, is much like a Holiday Inn, great staff, good food.

Nottingham, England
Park Plaza Hotel, I would recommend this to people I don't like! Prissy staff. Nice location, and apparently an award winning restaurant (didn't eat there) BUT...right on Maid Marian Way, apparently the local evening drag strip (I mean cars!)

Dudley, England
Copthorne Inn, Oh my gosh! Beautiful, great restaurant, great bar, great staff. I couldn't have asked for anything more.

London, England
Best Western Shaftesbury. Again, only to people I don't like. Cramped, and in a very LOUD area.

Embassy Suites on Harbor Blvd, only if you have the kids with you. A little too loud to get work done.

Embassy Suites on Frontera, beautiful and quiet. George's restaurant has a wonderful menu.

In Nashville at the Doubletree downtown. Within walking distance of just about anything!!!


I take the family to the Holiday Inn Holidome during the winter to play in the pools. It's a lot cheaper than the Wolf Lodge, etc.

It doesn't really matter as long as the ceiling doesn't leak and I don't have to pay by the hour.

Wayne

Hilton Garden - Houston (Bush airport) - small Hilton with big service - I recommend any Hilton Garden Inn

Oh, thanks Randy! Glad I read this thread. I'm staying at a Hilton Garden Inn for a week's vacation in a couple of weeks and I know NOTHING about them. Booked it because this particular hotel is brand new (was still under construction when I made the reservation) so I figured it at least had to be decent. Thanks for the input 'cause I value your opinion.

Hilton Garden Inn's are very nice. Somewhere between a Hampton and a Hilton. Will probably have a restaurant (part of the lobby area, much like an Embassy Suites) that will serve hot breakfast - also dinner I think. Have not statyed at one in awhile. It is a pretty new brand in the Hilton family, so it seems most properties are new.

Make sure you sign up for the Hilton Honors program too - there upgrades are pretty generous once you make gold, or even silver which is pretty easy. Once got a free upgrade in Niagara Falls to a master suite, jacuzzi, top floor, overlooking falls - for $70 CAD - it was winter, but still a $250 room for $70. I've also been able to use points for some pretty expensive rooms in Ireland and Las Vegas for vacations.

Most of my travel now is to Huntsville, AL. Sheraton (Starwood) just won more business from me since they sent me a corporate preferred guest card which gets me on the executive floor - free appetizers in the evening. Holiday Inn's (my normal choice in HSV) program has not done much for me even though I made gold.

Make sure you sign up whatever frequent guest program the hotel has. Even if you don't travel much, you might still get some freebies.

Huntsville?!! Tomh, you're practically in my backyard! I'm in Decatur, a whopping 10 minutes away! Glad to hear a Cover is visiting God's Country on a regular basis!

I'll be back for my monthly visit next week. Anything interesting to do in Decatur? In all of my trips I only explored that direction one time - think I only stopped at the KFC. Not much excitement or interesting dining in Huntsville/Madsion from what I have found.

Funny that you say that, because everyone in Decatur thinks the ONLY exciting things to do are in Huntsville! Grass is always greener, I suppose....

Not that much tourist type things this way once you get past the Space and Rocket Center. Believe it or not Decatur spends more $ per capita SHOPPING than citizens in any other city in Alabama, so I can tell you ALL the best stores, but not being a GIRL I doubt you'd be interested! :lmao:

Check out dcc.org

I don't have much to go on - I've only been on a small handful of business trips. The TownePlace Suites in Indianapolis has always served me well, though.

I must make a lot of lemonade, because when I have a bad hotel experience (and I have had many over the years), I just turn it into another story. I find few people are interested in hearing stories about good hotels unless they actually intend to visit the location, while everybody likes to revel in someone else's misery!

Here's a new one and a place that is going up in the top section of my list. I am presently here and honestly would like to stay a day or 2 longer so Judi could come out. I'm bringing her on my next trip if at all possible for no other reason than this place is beautiful, relaxing and just plain nice. Free high speed, fantastic food, great staff, perfect meeting spaces and fairly inexpensive for what you get.

I'm at the Dolce-Hayes Mansion in San Jose, California

Dolce Hayes Mansion, once a lavish private estate, provides the perfect oasis for meetings, training programs, teambuilding and special events. The Mansion was opened to the public in 1994, and quickly became the premier destination for meetings & conferences in the Northern California region. After undergoing two dramatic expansions, in 1996 and again in 2002, Dolce Hayes Mansion now offers more than 33,000 square feet of dedicated meeting space with 22 specially designed and equipped conference rooms, 214 guest rooms and suites, two restaurants and two lounges for dining and socializing.

We recently went on a 3 night, 4 day vacation to Seattle and stayed at The W right downtown. The W is a member of the Starwood Hotel Group, but you would never know it. The rates were reasonable ( a "Spectacular" Room, Corner King) was only $389 a night. It was the little stuff that made all the difference. Upon arrival, these guys that look like they are from a Robert Plant video swarm the limo. They were all in skin tight black and looked to be from Vogue or whatnot (the wife loved this) our bags were whisked away, our driver was paid and tipped - WOW -

Later that evening there was knock at the door and one of the Robert Plant guys was there with a tray of cookies and two glasses of champagne. We did not order it, they just said here, enjoy Seattle. Fresh flowers were in our room every day. The second night, they delivered a dessert sampler and more champagne. The last night they brought up flip flops, a big bottle of water and a hat with (of course) champagne.

I highly reccommend The W - Seattle.